Dinner at Union Square Cafe, brought this from my cellar. First time trying this vintage of the Antikytera. Decanted at the restaurant, the somm thought it might have been corked. There was a faint note of some TCA but it blew off after the decant. Decanted and drank over the course of the evening.
Light ruby/lavender color. Red fruits, baking spice and earth notes on the nose. Elegantly textured palate showing cherry, rhubarb, floral and licorice. Floral notes persisted through mid palate. Medium weight and finish
Wine improved significantly an hour plus in and continued to improve in the glass. It takes some coaxing and patience to get this to show - a 90 minute decant is advisable if venue allows.
PS...One trick worth sharing with Oregon Pinot. Leave it in the glass for a while if going on to another wine. in 30 minutes or so - pick it up but DO NOT swirl the glass. The nose will shows a beautiful caramel/ creme brulee characteristic. May happen with other wines but has been like clockwork with Oregon Pinot...
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Similar to my last experience a few years back. This is a nice balance of juicy fruit and herbs. Some salty mineral elements bring freshness. It’s really good but just didn’t excite me like the 13 Chardonnay from a few days prior.
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Lots of spot on reviews here already. Truly magical wine. JSHUFELT’s review especially matches my recollection. Maggie’s unique wine-making style clearly on display here.
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Decanted for 90 minutes before service. In the glass, pale-medium red/violet at the rim, shading gradually to medium-dark red/violet at the core. On the nose, a beguiling mix of cherries, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a very faint note of mint. On the palate, lush and mouth-filling, with deep reserves of fruit, yet somehow still light and spry - the liquid definition of a class act. A long finish reveals elements of minerality and an intimation of more exotic spice. Wonderful pinot.
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My 2nd and last bottle. High quality. More structure than bright young fruits. Possibly secondary characteristics? Delicious regardless. Acidity should keep this excellent for a long time.
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a bit mute on nose and palate clearly a new world pinot but did not enhance a roast duck and was disappointed enough that I brought out half consumed cote de beaune (clos des mouches) which was like a bright light in comparison
I do not know if it was a bad bottle or too old or just in dumb phase but this was well below former bottles - alas the last
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Some initial reduction, but otherwise fruit forward and concentrated with prominent cherry and rhubarb accented with baking spice and hints of black licorice. Acidity and structure are enough to keep the fruit in check. The profile leans California.
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Very powerful. Raspberry, rhubarb, mint. Surprisingly some alcohol, even though it is only 13.8%. On the palate very nice acidity, balanced, extremely long taste. A very powerful PN.
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Upon opening, was surprised to see a hint of brown in the decanter/glass. Still vibrant and floral on the nose. Strawberry/rhubarb, some cherry, spice, earthy notes. Very smooth and elegant finish. The wine seems complete and integrated at present.
This is drinking quite well now, for my palate anyway.
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Florals, spice & everything nice. Delicious perfumed nose of cherry, Chinese 5 spice, violets, mint, rhubarb pie. Lacy and elegant palate - pomegranate, black cherry, blueberry with hints of soil and mushroom.
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Still extremely young and exuberant. Loads of fruit, though starting to get hints of flower and spice components. Should really be quite nice, albeit stylistically will be interesting to see how it evolves with significant time in cellar. In any case, quite satisfying now, and no harm in enjoying one in the present. All in all, nearly outstanding with a good bet on being excellent in a few years.
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Three hour decant. Deep ruby magenta color, with a hint of rim fade. Raspberry, pine, lemon meringue and limestone on the nose. Super smooth, somewhat tart palate, with powerful, throbbing acidity. Firm, but low intensity tannins on the very long finish.
This is beautifully crafted, but the nose and palate are almost excessively tart and citrusy. I used to love that, but my palate is apparently changing. The quality is certainly 95+ points.
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Not your grandmother's Pinot Noir, nor for the faint of heart.
This wine is a monster. Huge, dark in color, brooding in character, intense in flavor. How appropriate the name, as if the wine itself transported from another time and place.
Six years young - I'm glad I now have a datum against which to measure future bottles. At present, all of the supporting elements are overwhelmed by the power of the fruit; hopefully, with age, the earth (wind, and fire) will play a more prominent role But, even now, drinking this is a special experience.
Rated +2 on a scale of -1 to +3.
PS The only comparable in my experience is Sean Thackrey's Orion.
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PnP. Les premier verres sont serrés. Une petite pause en carafe et c'est mieux mais seulement les derniers verres nous dévoilent un magnifique vin. Tout en souplesse avec du beau fruit noir. On est présence évidente d'un vin américain mais c'est dans les plus près de la bourgogne que je connaisse. 91pts
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Pinot in the City (Chicago, IL): Walk-around tasting, brief note. Complex aromas and flavors. Starts with ripe red berries and plenty of spice. More broad array of black and red berry and cherry flavors with sweeter spice and firm tannins standing just alongside the fruit. Impressive density and length. Needs time, 92-93+ point potential.
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Nice-nose of plum, berry, forest floor with multi-layered floral elements. Palate of persistent crushed red berries and high acid elements. Herbaceous characteristics of damp forest brings forward the taste of fiddle heads. Balance of all makes wine that is lovely.
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Willamette Valley May 2019; 5/17/2019-5/18/2019: Have always wanted to love this wine but have never really bonded with it. Super intense nose - roses, menthol, earth, spice. Medium tannin and acidic structure. On palate, seemed a little closed. Is that a function of where it is age-wise? Still beautiful. Price performance less so.
Very aromatic nose (even more so than the Botanica) showing floral qualities, black cherry, blackberry and light hints of red fruit behind. Between medium and full bodied with black cherry and brighter blackberry upfront. Mid-body shows deeper darker notes of black raspberry, excellent density and waves upon waves of silky, elegant nuances. Acidity based tartness behind along with wildberry notes and a lengthy finish. There's a lot going on in the mid-body (both fruit and structure wise), but the wine is so deftly balanced, it comes off as balanced and integrated, but much more than the sum of its parts. Drinking quite well at present and should continue to improve over the next couple of years.
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Not anywhere as dynamic as you would think based off other reviews...softer wine with mild fruits, currants, cherries. It started harsh until it opened after an hour or so but still not as big a Pinot as I had hoped.
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This is still coming together but the raw materials are exciting. Bold, rich fruit aromatics combined with forest floor and mushrooms. A darker pinot, silky structure and a long finish. Much more cerebral than the typical new world pinot noir. Lovely even at this stage but it will certainly improve with a few more years in the cellar.
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Nice weight and solid length. A good amount of juicy red fruit and herbs on the mid section with quite a bit of stemy/whole cluster action going on. Acid driven, young and better with food. Needs 3-4 years.
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At a walk around tasting. This was clearly the class of the Pinots, with 2 years of additional age as an added factor. More depth and concentration. Beautiful menthol note coupled with cherry and spice. The level of concentration from beginning to end is very impressive.
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Willamette Valley Weekend Visit; 5/26/2018-5/27/2018: Tasting at the winery. Lots of cherry with even more baking spice. Intriguing and unfolding, this seems to tell you it’s forward and simply fun, but layers in the background hint at more complex enjoyment as this ages.
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fabulous example of pinot. I feel it perfectly ripe and not over the top like californian and lacks some of the metallic tang I get from Oregon but it also is not quite as earthy as burgundy 92+
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Tasted at the winery. Med ruby w purple highlights. Cold and closed on nose. Mineral-spicy with wild strawberry, cranberry and classy oak. Mouth feel a bit disjointed: aggressive tannins up front with good acidity leaving fruit in the background. Great palate grip. Lingering finish with savory notes. A lot of wine here, but hard to assess today.
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Lovely pinot. I did not get a particular Oregon signature but it had all of the varietal notes one expects and went great with a venison loin prepared sous vide
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7/22/2023 - Hanibal wrote: 90 Points
Closed and wood is too prominent
Forget it for a while
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7/22/2023 - Mario17 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruits rouges et noirs, belle finesse et fraicheur, des tannins assez soyeux malgré qu’ils sont encore bien sentis, très bon.
Red and dark fruit, nice finesse and freshenss that goes with the silky but still slightly grippy tannins, real good.
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7/12/2023 - Smooth Jazz wrote: 92 Points
Good wine but a touch boozier than the ABV on the bottle - riper, rounder and heavier than burgundy and matched like a champ with spicy Indian food
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6/25/2023 - jhieb Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow. I haven’t had this in a while and I was blown away by just how good it is.
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5/22/2023 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Union Square Cafe, brought this from my cellar. First time trying this vintage of the Antikytera. Decanted at the restaurant, the somm thought it might have been corked. There was a faint note of some TCA but it blew off after the decant. Decanted and drank over the course of the evening.
Light ruby/lavender color. Red fruits, baking spice and earth notes on the nose. Elegantly textured palate showing cherry, rhubarb, floral and licorice. Floral notes persisted through mid palate. Medium weight and finish
Wine improved significantly an hour plus in and continued to improve in the glass. It takes some coaxing and patience to get this to show - a 90 minute decant is advisable if venue allows.
PS...One trick worth sharing with Oregon Pinot. Leave it in the glass for a while if going on to another wine. in 30 minutes or so - pick it up but DO NOT swirl the glass. The nose will shows a beautiful caramel/ creme brulee characteristic. May happen with other wines but has been like clockwork with Oregon Pinot...
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2/18/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tart. Pâtes de fruits. Savory. Herbs. Dark chocolate. Smoke. Elegant. Opens up perfectly at the two hour mark. Smooth thereafter.
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9/26/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Similar to my last experience a few years back. This is a nice balance of juicy fruit and herbs. Some salty mineral elements bring freshness. It’s really good but just didn’t excite me like the 13 Chardonnay from a few days prior.
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8/21/2022 - BHP1994 wrote: 95 Points
Lots of spot on reviews here already. Truly magical wine. JSHUFELT’s review especially matches my recollection. Maggie’s unique wine-making style clearly on display here.
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4/8/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe raspberry to the nose. Ripe on the palate. And more kinda clipped.
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12/28/2021 - jshufelt wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes before service. In the glass, pale-medium red/violet at the rim, shading gradually to medium-dark red/violet at the core. On the nose, a beguiling mix of cherries, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a very faint note of mint. On the palate, lush and mouth-filling, with deep reserves of fruit, yet somehow still light and spry - the liquid definition of a class act. A long finish reveals elements of minerality and an intimation of more exotic spice. Wonderful pinot.
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12/27/2021 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
consistent with notes of 06/17/2017 - Zahir in particular enjoyed this wine - drink in the next 2-3 years
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4/17/2021 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 91 Points
My 2nd and last bottle. High quality. More structure than bright young fruits. Possibly secondary characteristics? Delicious regardless. Acidity should keep this excellent for a long time.
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2/15/2021 - VoteferPedro wrote: 88 Points
a bit mute on nose and palate
clearly a new world pinot but did not enhance a roast duck and was disappointed enough that I brought out half consumed cote de beaune (clos des mouches) which was like a bright light in comparison
I do not know if it was a bad bottle or too old or just in dumb phase but this was well below former bottles - alas the last
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11/30/2020 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright, lively and complex. Everyone loved. Very good Pinot.
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10/18/2020 - poppacork Likes this wine: 93 Points
Some initial reduction, but otherwise fruit forward and concentrated with prominent cherry and rhubarb accented with baking spice and hints of black licorice. Acidity and structure are enough to keep the fruit in check. The profile leans California.
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10/17/2020 - Neras Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very powerful. Raspberry, rhubarb, mint. Surprisingly some alcohol, even though it is only 13.8%. On the palate very nice acidity, balanced, extremely long taste. A very powerful PN.
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10/7/2020 - JLuch1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Upon opening, was surprised to see a hint of brown in the decanter/glass. Still vibrant and floral on the nose. Strawberry/rhubarb, some cherry, spice, earthy notes. Very smooth and elegant finish. The wine seems complete and integrated at present.
This is drinking quite well now, for my palate anyway.
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8/26/2020 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 94 Points
Florals, spice & everything nice. Delicious perfumed nose of cherry, Chinese 5 spice, violets, mint, rhubarb pie. Lacy and elegant palate - pomegranate, black cherry, blueberry with hints of soil and mushroom.
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7/3/2020 - cadamson Likes this wine:
Still extremely young and exuberant. Loads of fruit, though starting to get hints of flower and spice components. Should really be quite nice, albeit stylistically will be interesting to see how it evolves with significant time in cellar. In any case, quite satisfying now, and no harm in enjoying one in the present. All in all, nearly outstanding with a good bet on being excellent in a few years.
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4/13/2020 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Three hour decant. Deep ruby magenta color, with a hint of rim fade. Raspberry, pine, lemon meringue and limestone on the nose. Super smooth, somewhat tart palate, with powerful, throbbing acidity. Firm, but low intensity tannins on the very long finish.
This is beautifully crafted, but the nose and palate are almost excessively tart and citrusy. I used to love that, but my palate is apparently changing. The quality is certainly 95+ points.
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3/20/2020 - IJC Likes this wine:
Not your grandmother's Pinot Noir, nor for the faint of heart.
This wine is a monster. Huge, dark in color, brooding in character, intense in flavor. How appropriate the name, as if the wine itself transported from another time and place.
Six years young - I'm glad I now have a datum against which to measure future bottles. At present, all of the supporting elements are overwhelmed by the power of the fruit; hopefully, with age, the earth (wind, and fire) will play a more prominent role But, even now, drinking this is a special experience.
Rated +2 on a scale of -1 to +3.
PS The only comparable in my experience is Sean Thackrey's Orion.
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11/21/2019 - WinoWynn Likes this wine: 92 Points
The Fragrance if full of Flower & berries.
Still kinda young after 2 hours of décante.
Give few more years.
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10/31/2019 - nicefish wrote: 91 Points
Underwhelmed based on these ebullient reviews.
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8/10/2019 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 93 Points
very much same as my prior notes
lovely pinot!
served with king salmon!
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8/3/2019 - SLab Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Les premier verres sont serrés. Une petite pause en carafe et c'est mieux mais seulement les derniers verres nous dévoilent un magnifique vin. Tout en souplesse avec du beau fruit noir. On est présence évidente d'un vin américain mais c'est dans les plus près de la bourgogne que je connaisse. 91pts
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7/16/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Pinot in the City (Chicago, IL): Walk-around tasting, brief note. Complex aromas and flavors. Starts with ripe red berries and plenty of spice. More broad array of black and red berry and cherry flavors with sweeter spice and firm tannins standing just alongside the fruit. Impressive density and length. Needs time, 92-93+ point potential.
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6/30/2019 - Scottlmatthews Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice-nose of plum, berry, forest floor with multi-layered floral elements. Palate of persistent crushed red berries and high acid elements. Herbaceous characteristics of damp forest brings forward the taste of fiddle heads. Balance of all makes wine that is lovely.
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5/17/2019 - tak4 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Willamette Valley May 2019; 5/17/2019-5/18/2019: Have always wanted to love this wine but have never really bonded with it. Super intense nose - roses, menthol, earth, spice. Medium tannin and acidic structure. On palate, seemed a little closed. Is that a function of where it is age-wise? Still beautiful. Price performance less so.
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4/30/2019 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very aromatic nose (even more so than the Botanica) showing floral qualities, black cherry, blackberry and light hints of red fruit behind. Between medium and full bodied with black cherry and brighter blackberry upfront. Mid-body shows deeper darker notes of black raspberry, excellent density and waves upon waves of silky, elegant nuances. Acidity based tartness behind along with wildberry notes and a lengthy finish. There's a lot going on in the mid-body (both fruit and structure wise), but the wine is so deftly balanced, it comes off as balanced and integrated, but much more than the sum of its parts. Drinking quite well at present and should continue to improve over the next couple of years.
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3/22/2019 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 93 Points
complex and layered nose
fruit had density but the wine felt light on the tongue
decent length in the finish
5+13+18+7
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2/8/2019 - rbc1978 wrote: 91 Points
Not anywhere as dynamic as you would think based off other reviews...softer wine with mild fruits, currants, cherries. It started harsh until it opened after an hour or so but still not as big a Pinot as I had hoped.
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1/6/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): Interesting to check in on this wine a year later. It's still qite enjoyable. Lots of red currants. A softer approach. Very pretty in style. I think perhaps starting to come together a bit more, but still quite young.
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12/21/2018 - J. Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is still coming together but the raw materials are exciting. Bold, rich fruit aromatics combined with forest floor and mushrooms. A darker pinot, silky structure and a long finish. Much more cerebral than the typical new world pinot noir. Lovely even at this stage but it will certainly improve with a few more years in the cellar.
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11/21/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Nice weight and solid length. A good amount of juicy red fruit and herbs on the mid section with quite a bit of stemy/whole cluster action going on. Acid driven, young and better with food. Needs 3-4 years.
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9/25/2018 - jrobs7777 wrote:
At a walk around tasting. This was clearly the class of the Pinots, with 2 years of additional age as an added factor. More depth and concentration. Beautiful menthol note coupled with cherry and spice. The level of concentration from beginning to end is very impressive.
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9/15/2018 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
consistent with notes of 06/17/2017 - beautiful wine
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5/27/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Willamette Valley Weekend Visit; 5/26/2018-5/27/2018: Tasting at the winery. Lots of cherry with even more baking spice. Intriguing and unfolding, this seems to tell you it’s forward and simply fun, but layers in the background hint at more complex enjoyment as this ages.
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1/7/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland II; 1/6/2018-1/14/2018 (Portland, Eureka, Napa): The cherry really shines through on this along with more of a brambly nature. Very young and a wine that I think would benefit from some more time to come together. Still quite nice and clearly well done.
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10/12/2017 - bthatton Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely spellbinding on nose.
Red iron. Deep dark rock. Bright rose petals. Moss. Pine cone.
A volcano of flavor- yet not heavy.
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8/20/2017 - ekgPDX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ripe, spice notes, pleasant minerality and earth notes
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7/27/2017 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
fabulous example of pinot.
I feel it perfectly ripe and not over the top like californian and lacks some of the metallic tang I get from Oregon but it also is not quite as earthy as burgundy
92+
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6/17/2017 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely, with delicate flavors of raspberry, clove, cinnamon, orange peel, and plum.
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5/1/2017 - Galen McDonald Likes this wine:
Tasted at the winery. Med ruby w purple highlights. Cold and closed on nose. Mineral-spicy with wild strawberry, cranberry and classy oak. Mouth feel a bit disjointed: aggressive tannins up front with good acidity leaving fruit in the background. Great palate grip. Lingering finish with savory notes. A lot of wine here, but hard to assess today.
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3/24/2017 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely pinot. I did not get a particular Oregon signature but it had all of the varietal notes one expects and went great with a venison loin prepared sous vide
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